Hot-line tie-in tool



June 12, 1951 B. F. SMALLEY 2,556,663

HOTLINE TIE-IN TOOL Filed June 1, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.EeW/amzhf': 57m: ZZe

' ATTOR/VZ'VS June 12, 1951 B. F. SMALLEY 2,556,663

HOT-LINE TIE-IN TOOL Filed June 1, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 as I .56

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INVEN TOR.

Patented June 12, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HOT-LINE TIE-IN TOOLBenjamin F. Smalley, South Gate, Calif; ApplicationJune 1, 1948, SerialNo. 30,419

4 Claims (01. 140-122) This invention relates to a hot-line tie-in toolfor twisting insulator tie wires around line wires and for similarpurposes.

It is among the objects of the invention to provide an improved toolwhich will quickly and securely wrap or twist a tie wire on an insulatoraround a line wire, which is completely insulated so that it can be usedon fully-charged line wires without danger to the operator, which cannotbecome accidentally disassociated from the line wire while in use,whichhas separable rotatable parts that can be separated and rotatedonly under predetermined conditions to avoid damage to the tool, whichis light in weight so that it can be used without undue fatigue on thepart of the operator, and is simple and durable in construction andeconomical to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from a considerationof the following description and the appended claims in conjunction withthe accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal elevation of a hot-line tie-in toolillustrative of the invention;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal elevation of the tool illustrated in Figure 1showing the opposite side of the tool from that shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a longitudinal elevation of the tool shown in Figure 1showing a side of the tool at ninety degrees from the side shown inFigure 1;

Figure 4 is a top plan view of the tool illustrated in Figure 1; V VFigure 5 is a longitudinal. medial cross-section of the upper or windinghead portion of the tool and is taken substantiallyon the line 5-5 ofFigure 4;

Figure 6 is a transverse cross-section of the upper portion of the tooltaken substantially on the line 66 of Figure 4; and

Figure '7 is a transverse cross-section taken substantially on the line1T of Figure 4.

With continued reference to the drawings, the improved tool comprises anelongated tubular stem, generally indicated at [0, a winding head,generally indicated at ll, secured to one end of the stem II], a drivinghead, generally indicated at l2, secured to the opposite end of thestem,

and a drive shaft I3 extending through the stem and operativelyconnecting the driving head 12 to the winding head I I. Stem Ill anddrive shaft 13 are preferably formed of a suitable, electricallyinsulating material so that the tool may be used to work on afully-charged or hot line without -danger to the operator.

I The tool also generally includes manually operated means [4 extendingfrom a location adjacent the driving head I2 to thewinding head H tooperate the winding head for receiving and releasing a line Wire aboutwhich a tie wire or other wire is to be Wrapped or twisted by the tool.

The driving head l'2 comprises a rigid, rectangular frame I5 one side ofwhich is secured to the corresponding end of tubular stem 56 by aferrule 16, a bevelled gear I! journaled in the stem attached side ofthe frameand drivingly connected to the corresponding end of drive shaft[3, a transverse shaft l8 journaled in the frame, a hand crank IS on oneend of shaft I8 and a bevelled gear 20 on shaft 18 meshing with bevelledgear I! so that drive shaft 13 will be rotated upon rotation of handcrank I9. A generally cylindrical handle 2| is secured to the side offrame 12 opposite the side secured to stem 10 and extends in a directionopposite the stem.

When in use the tool is held by one hand grasping the handle 2| andoperated by the other hand rotating the crank l9. s In the winding headII a U-shaped frame 22 has its bight portion secured to thecorresponding end of stem ID by a ferrule 23 and has spacedapart,substantially-parallel legs 24. r 7

Each leg 24 of frame 22 has a semi-circular socket 25 formed thereinadjacent its outer end and a respective, semi-circular bearing half 25is secured in each socket with its straight side flush with the adjacentedge of the corresponding leg. r

Each bearing half 26 has an outwardly extending, semi-circular flange orshoulder 21 on each end thereof for a purpose'presently to be described.A pair of jaws-28 are positioned, one at the outer side of each frameleg Hand these ,jaws are pivotally connected to the frame by theprojecting ends of a shaft 29 extending transversely throughthe frameand. journaled in the legs 24. Each jaw '28 is provided with asemi-cylindrical socket in which is secured a bearing half 26 similarintall respects to the bearing halves secured in the sockets 25 of theframe. legs. When the jaws are closed with the corresponding frame legs,as illustrated in Figure 4, thebearing halves 26 constitutetwo-spaced-apart, complete bear.- ings in the outer end of the frame 22.

The two identical halves or parts 30 of a longitudinally split, tubularshaft 3| are journaled in the two bearings provided by the bearinghalves ZBand are provided with shoulderedcollars 32 which operativelyoverlie correspondingend :iiange's or shoulders 21 on the bearing halves3 to maintain the two parts of the split shaft in operative associationwith the bearing halves.

A semi-cylindrical, flanged half collar 32' is secured on each end ofeach shaft part 3|! and from each half collar 32 a wire twisting finger33 inclines outwardly to engage the tie wire next to insulator and wrapsthe tie wire around a line wire received in the split tubular shaft 3 I.

The jaws 28 are opened and closed to separate and close the two parts ofthe tubular shaft 3| by the manually operated means l4 and to this end abracket 34 is secured at its ends to the respective jaws 28 and has at alocation substantially midway between the jaws an outwardly extendingtongue 35 apertured at its outer end to receive a pivot pin 36 pivotallyconnecting a link 31 to the outer end of the bracket. A ring 38 isclamped around the ferrule 23 and provides at one side of the ferrule anapertured fulcrum 39. A bell crank lever 46 is pivotally mounted in thefulcrum 36 by a suitable pivot pin 4| and has one end pivotallyconnected to the corresponding end of link 3! by pivot pin 42. Anelongated rod 43 is pivotally connected at one end to the other end ofthe bell crank lever by a pivot pin 44 and the opposite end of this rodis pivotally connected by a suitable connection 45 to one endof a bellcrank lever 46 pivotally mounted by pivot pin 41 on a fulcrum 48provided by a band 49 encircling the stem l0 near the driving head I2.50 is secured on the other end of bell crank lever 46 and when thishandle is pulled downwardly, as illustrated in Figure 3, the bell cranklever 40 and bracket 35 are actuated to open the jaws 28 and therebyseparate the two parts 30 of the split shaft 3|. Obviously the two partsof the split shaft can be separated only when the plane of contactbetween the two parts of the shaft passes through the axis of shaft 29by which the jaws 28 are secured to frame 22 as otherwise theinterengaging shoulders 21 and 32 will hold the two parts of the shafttogether.

When handle 5|] is pulled down and the tWo' parts 36 of split shaft 3|are separated the two parts of the split shaft may be placed around aline wire so that the line wire is received therein and when the handle50 is subsequently raised and the two parts of split shaft 3| broughttogether, the line wire is positively retained in the split shaftagainst accidental removal therefrom and the split shaft as a whole isrotatable around the line wire so that the twisting fingers 33 may pickup the tie wire next to insulator and twist them around the line wireupon rotation of the hand crank |9.

Drive shaft |3 is drivingly connected to split shaft 3| through an axlepin 5| which has on one end a cylindrical ferrule 52 secured on thecorresponding end of the drive shaft and has secured on its opposite enda bevelled pinion 53. Axle pin 5| is journaled in a bushing 54 whichextends through the bight portion of frame 22 and is preferably providedas a continuation of ferrule 23 which may be formed of brass or someother suitable bearing material.

It is to be here noted that bevelled pinion l! is secured on an axle pinsimilar to axle pin 5| journaled in a bushing provided in frame l2 andsecured by a ferrule similar to ferrule 52 to the corresponding end ofdrive shaft l3.

Bevelled gear 53 meshes with a corresponding bevelled gear 55 secured ontransverse shaft 29 and a spur gear 56 is secured on a reduced portionof shaft 55 and meshes with a split spur gear, generally indicated at51, the two halves 58 of A handle which are respectively secured to thetwo halves 30 of split shaft 3|. The parts of spur gear 51 are providedat one end with semi-annular shoulders 59 overlying correspondingshoulders 21 on one pair of bearing halves -26 to assist in operativelysecuring the two parts of the split shaft 3| to the bearing halves 26.

With the above described arrangement and with the jaws 28 closed withthe frame legs 24 the split shaft 3| will be rotated when hand crank I9is rotated.

Suitable locking means are provided to avoid damaging the tool byattempted rotation of the gear 51 when the jaws 28 are open. This meansincludes a transverse bar 60 secured to the frame and provided with anapertured tongue 6| and a locking pin 62 extending slidably through theapertured tongue in a position such that its lower or inner end isengageable between the gear teeth of the bevelled gear 53, asparticularly illustrated in Figure 6. Pin 62 is normally held out ofengagement with the teeth of gear 53 by a compression spring 63surrounding the pin between tongue 6| and head 64 of the pin. Whenbracket 34 is actuated to open the jaws 28 and separate the two parts ofsplit shaft 3| it contacts the head of pin 62 and forces the pininwardly against the force of spring 63 until the inner end of the pinlockingly engages the teeth of bevelled gear 53 thereby precludingrotation of the twisting head gears while the jaws are open.

If desired, rod 43 of the manually operated means |4 may be held inclose proximity to the I stem 56 by a roller 65 journaled between theapertured ears 66 of a collar 67 surrounding stem l0 intermediate thelength thereof which roller overlies the outer sides of rod 43 to holdthe rod close to the stem at all times.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departingfrom the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The presentembodiment is, therefore, to be considered in all respects asillustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention beingindicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoingdescription, and all changes which come within the meaning and range ofequivalency of the claims are, therefore, intended to be embracedtherein.

What is claimed is:

l. A hot-line tie-in tool comprising a stem, a shaft rotatable in saidstein, a U-shaped frame secured on one end and a rectangular framesecured on the opposite end of said stem, two bevelled gears journaledone in each frame and drivingly connected to the corresponding ends ofsaid shaft, a transverse shaft journaled in said rectangular frame, ahand crank on one end of said transverse shaft and a bevelled gear onthe intermediate portion thereof meshing with the corresponding framejournaled bevelled. gear, a handle on said rectangular frame oppositesaid stem, a second transverse shaft journaled in. said U-shaped frame,a spur gear and a bevelled gear on said second transverse shaft, saidbevelled gear meshing with the corresponding frame journaled bevelledgear whereby said spur gear is rotated upon rotation of saidfirst-mentioned transverse shaft by said hand crank, a pair of jawspivotally secured one to each leg of said U-shaped frame, a respectivebearing half secured in each jaw and each frame leg constituting apairof spaced- .apart complete bearings when said jaws are closed withsaid legs, a split tubular shaft journaled in said bearings and having apair of oppositely extending wire twisting fingers on each end thereofand adapted to receive a line wire therein, a split spur gear on saidtubular shaft meshing with the spur gear on said second transverseshaft, a fulcrum at the stem end of said U-shaped frame, a bell cranklever pivoted to said fulcrum, a bracket secured to said jaws, a linkoperatively connecting said bracket to said bell crank lever, a rodextending from said bell crank lever, a second fulcrum adjacent saidrectangular frame, a hand lever pivoted on said second fulcrum andoperatively connected to said rod to open and close said jaws toseparate and close the two parts of said split tubular shaft, and alocking pin carried by said U-shaped frame and moved by said bracketupon opening of said jaws to engage the corresponding frame journaledbevelled gear .and lock the latter against rotation while said jaws areopen.

2. A hot-line tie-in tool for twisting a tie wire about a line wirecomprising an elongated tubular stem, a winding head on one end of saidstem, 2. driving head on the opposite end of said stem, a drive shaftextending through said stem operatively connecting said driving head tosaid winding head, and hand operated means extending from adjacent saiddriving head to said winding head to operate said winding head toreceive or release a line wire, said winding head comprising a U-shapedframe, a pair of jaws pivotally secured one to each leg of said frame, alongitudinally split tubular shaft journaled in said frame legs and saidjaws and having outwardly extending winding fingers on each end thereof,gear means connecting said drive shaft to said split shaft, meansoperatively connecting said jaws to said hand operated means, and lockmeans carried by said frame and actuated by said hand operated means toengage said gear means and lock the latter against rotation when saidjaws are open.

3. A tool for twisting a tie wire about a line wire comprising anelongated tubular stem, a drive shaftextending through said tubular stemand journaled therein, a winding head secured on one end of said stem, adriving head secured on the other end of said stem, and hand operatedmeans extending along said stem from said winding head to a locationadjacent said driving head for operating said winding head to receive orrelease a line wire, said winding head comprising a U-shaped framehaving its intermediate portions secured to the corresponding end ofsaid stem and having two legs extending away from said stem in spacedapart relationship relative to each other, a jaw pivotally secured toeach of said legs, a half bearing secured to each leg, a half bearingsecured to each jaw, the two half bearings carried one by a leg and theother by the jaw secured to such leg being complementary and togetherconstituting a complete bearing and the two bearings provided by thefour half bearings being spaced apart in a direction perpendicular tothe longitudinal center line of said drive shaft, a split shaftjournaled in said bearings and having a wire receiving bore extendinglongitudinally therethrough and winding fingers on each end thereof, asplit spur gear on said split shaft between said bearings, a transverseshaft journaled in said bracket legs and disposed substantially parallelto said split shaft, a spur gear on said transverse shaft meshing withthe spur gear on said split shaft, a beveled gear on said transverseshaft, a beveled gear on the adjacent end of said drive shaft meshingwith the beveled gear on said transverse shaft, and means connectingsaid jaws to said manually operated means.

4. A tool for twisting a tie wire about a line wire comprising anelongated tubular stem, a drive shaft extending through said tubularstem and journaled therein, a Winding head secured on one end of saidstem, a driving head secured on the other end of said stem, and handoperated means extending along said stem from said winding head to alocation adjacent said driving head for operating said winding head toreceive or release a line wire, said winding head comprising a U-shapedframe having its intermediate portions secured to the corresponding endof said stem and having two legs extending away from said stem in spacedapart relationship relative to each other, a jaw pivotally secured toeach of said legs, a half bearing secured to each leg, a half bearingsecured to each jaw, the two half bearings carried one by a leg and theother by the jaw secured to such leg being complementary and togetherconstituting a complete bearing and the two bearings provided by thefour half bearings being spaced apart in a direction perpendicular tothe longitudinal center line of said drive shaft, a split shaftjournaled in said bearings and having a wire receiving bore extendinglongitudinally therethrough and winding fingers on each end thereof, asplit spur gear on said split shaft between said bearings, a transverseshaft journaled in said bracket legs and disposed substantially parallelto said split shaft, a spur gear on said transverse shaft meshing withthe spur gear on said split shaft, a beveled gear on said I transverseshaft, a beveled gear on the adjacent end of said drive shaft meshingwith the beveled gear on said transverse shaft, means connecting saidjaws to said manually operated means, and means on said split shaftengaging said half bearings restraining said split shaft againstlongitudinal movement relative to said bearings and restraining theparts of said split shaft against separation from said half bearingswhen said winding head is operated to receive a line wire therein.

BENJAMIN F. SMALLEY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

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